Variable compression and speed device



Nov. 13, 1928.- 1,691,284

J. E. HARRIS VARIABLE couPREssIdN AND srrmn nnvxcs Filed Aug. 1925 4 Sheefs-Sheet 1 JEHaY I/a Nov. 13, 1923; 1,6911'284 J. E. HARRIS VARIABLE COIPRESSION AND SPEED DEVICE Filed Aug- 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JZ. Harp-9 Ndv. 13, 1928. 1,6913284 J. E. HARRIS VARIABLE COMPRESSION AND SPEED DEVICE Filed Aug. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jlfffarpaf Nov. 1-3, 1925.

J. E. HARRIS VARIABLE COMPRESSION AND SPEED DEVICE FiladAug. 1925 4 Shuts-Sheet 4 lll 22%)ness:

JASON E. HARRIS, OF HOWARD, KANSAS.

PATENT OFF! VARIAFLE COMPRESSION AND SPEED DEVICE.

' Application filed August 3, 1925. SeriaI No, 47,753.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and air compressors, and the rimary object is to provide means for varymg the'stroke of the piston to effect a change in piston displacement, whereby high compression shall be secured with a long stroke and low compression with a short stroke,the piston displacement therefore being in proportion to the length of stroke.

Another object of the invention is to produce aconstruction which is susceptible of hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, with the pistons in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line Ira-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line IVIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view partly in central vertical and partly in elevation of Figure 4. v

Figure 6 is a vertical section corresponding to Figure 4 but with the crank in depending position as contracted with Figure 4 in which the crank is in upstanding position, certain features shown in the latter figure being omitted in Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section of the bearings for the crank shaft which is shown in elevation, the figure also showing in section a worm wheel through operation of which the crank shaft is adjusted for effecting variation in the compression and speed developed by the engine. p

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the stationary base or framework of the engine, 2 the crank shaft mounted thereon, and 3 the crank of the shaft. The crank case 4 is mounted with a ball bearing relation around the bearingsof the crank shaft, the case being made in sections for convenience in assemblin The cylinders 5 are bolted at their inner en and stand in radialrelation to the crank case, and in the construction shown are adapted with the crank case, to revolve around the crank shaft which is stationary when the engine is working, although it is susceptible of rotary adjustment at such time to permit of changing the engine from a high speed high compression to a low speed low compression engine, as hereinafter explained. The pistons 6 are adaptedfor reciprocation in the cylinders, and are provided with intakevalves, not shown, as forming no art of this invention, for admitting combusti le mixture from the crank case to the head or combustion chamber ends of the cylinders. The intakevalves mentioned form the subject matter of Patent No. 1,627.032, May 3, 1927. j

The piston rods 7 are pivotally connected at their outer ends in the conventional or any preferred manner, not shown, with the pistons, and at their inner ends are pivotally connected with the crank by means of collars 8. The detailed construction of the connection of the rods 7 with the crank forms the subject matter of Patent No. 1,627,031, May 3, 1927, and hence is not described orshown in detail herein.

The bearings for the crank shaft have eccentric enlargements or hubs 9 constitutin an outer part or member of the crank sha t of'the engine as the crank case is journaled for rotation thereon. It will thus be apparent that the axis of rotation of the 'cylindersis eccentric with respect to the axis of ad'ustment or rotation of the inner member 0 the crank shaft, the latter as hereinbefore mentioned, being rotatably adjusted only when it is desired to vary the travel of the pistons and hence the compression and speed of operation. For high speed the crank will stand in a verticalor upri ht position as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 an 7. By such adjustment the pistons will have their longest travel and hence provide the greatest compression. For the shortest travel of the pistons and hence lowest speed and compression, the crank occupies the pendent position shown by Figure 6. Positions of the crank intermediate the two extremes mentioned, will give corresponding piston strokes, compression and speed. It will be obvious of course that the construction described with regard to the crank shaft and cylinders may be reversed,

that is to say, if the crank-shaft is'the driven element the cylinders will be stationary, but

like the crank shaft in the present showing,

will be capable of rotaryadjustment so as to vary the length'of stroke of the pistons with the corresponding changes in speed and compression hereinbefore mentioned.

. In the construction shown, a worm wheel is keyed on one end of the crank shaft and is engaged by worm 11 operable by a crank 12 as shown, or through any other means of transmittin' power. For example, if the engine is used on a motor car, any suitable gearingor leverage arrangement may be provided which enables the river of the car to efi'ect adjustment of the shaft without leavin his seat. One of the hubs in which the crank shaft ismounted is provided with a passage 13 for conducting a combustible mixture into the crank case, whence it asses, as hereinwhich the dead gases will be exhausted to the to the respective cylinders, and the stems 18 atmosphere through an "exhaust manifold, not

shown, of any conventional or preferred type. The pockets 16 and valves 17 stand at ang es of such valves standat corresponding angles and are journaled near their-inner ends in bearings 19' formedin the crank case, and

i within the latter the said stems 18 are equipped with worm gears 20 engaging a wormcollar 21 secured on one of theeocentric hubs upon which the rotary part of the engine is mounted, the arrangement bein such that revolution of the cylinders aroun the eccentric' hubs and corresponding revolution of worm gears 20 around the eccentric worm collar, will impart turning movement to the worm gears and hence corresponding rotary movement to the exhaust valves so that the portsthereof will register with the combustion'chambers of the respective cylinders once in every other revolution of the latter around the shaft. It will be noted,-by reference to Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, that the worm collar 2 21 is provided witharms 22 hearing against lpposite sides of the crank of the shaft, so

o t at whenthe latter is rotatably adjusted for t e purpose mentioned, the worm collar is clearlyturned so as to maintain the same relative position of the crank shaft and the exhaust ports at all times.

The operation of the engine which is of the four-cycle type is the same as any conventional four-cycle engine except that through a relative change in position between the cylinders and the crank shaft the length of stroke of the piston is varied so that the same engine may be operated at varying speeds and hence with power dependent upon the character of work to'be erformed, it being also clearly apparent w en operating under low com ression and low speed, the volume of com ustible mixture required is much less than when operating under high compression and high speed. With the eccentric mounting of the cylinders as shown, and the crank standing upright it will be apparent that the pistons reciprocate their full distance, that is a' distance almost double the length of the crank itself. With the crank sha t in vertically pendent position, the eccentric relation between the crank and the eccentric 9 is materially reduced with a correspondin diminution in the length of the pistons stro es and in the degree of compression of the c0mbus-' tible mixture in the combustion chambers of the pistons.

From the above description, it Wlll be aparent that I have produced an internal com- 1 ustion engine possessing the features of ad-' vantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the objects of the invention, and which is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departin from the principle of construction and m e of operation involved.

Iclaim:

.1. In a variable compression and speed decentrically of the axis of the shaft and around the crank of the latter, cylinders carried by the crank case pistons in the cylinders, connecting rods between the pistons and the crank of the shaft, and means for varying the degree of eccentricity between the axle of the crank case and said crank by relative rotary adjustment between the shaft and crank case. 2. In a variable compression and speed device, a crank shaft, a crank case disposed eccentrically of the axis of the shaft and around the crank of the latter, cylinders carried by the crank case, pistons in the cylinders, connecting rods between the pistons and the crank of the shaft, means for varyin the degree of eccentricity between the axis of the crank case and said crank b relative rotary adjustment between the shaft and crankcase, exhaust valves for the cylinders, and means actuated by change in eccentricit between the crank and the axis of the cran case, for effecting conforming adjustment of the exhaust valves.

3. In a variablecompression and speed device, a crank shaft, a crank case disposed eccentrically of the axis of the shaft and around the crank of the latter, cylinders carried by the crank case, pistons in the cylinders, connecting rods between the pistons and the crank of the shaft, means for varying the degree of eccentricity between the arms of the crank case and said crank by relative rotary adjustment between the shaft and crank case,

. worm collar coaxial with the crank case and in fixed relation to the crank, and worm gears engaging the worm collar for rotation by and 5 relatively around it and connected to rotate the respective exhaust valves.

4. In a variable compression and speed device, a supporting frame, a shaft journaled therein and provided with a crank, a crank- 10 case journaled on the frame eccentrically o! the axis of said shaft and inclosing said crank, c linders secured to and radially of the cran -case, pistons reciprocalli arranged in the cylinder and pivotall lin ed to the crank, and means for rotatab y adjusting the 10 crank to increase or decrease the distance between the centers of the crank-case andcrank and thereby vary the length of stroke of the pistons.

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my sig- 20 nature. 

